State says man forced woman into prostitution

A Victoria federal judge has found a 29-year-old man guilty of possessing a firearm that affected foreign and interstate commerce.

Corey Hammon Green is in Victoria County Jail and may face up to 10 years in prison with a $250,000 fine. He was convicted Wednesday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Booth declined to comment until Green's sentencing hearing Feb. 4, 2013. The U.S. Attorney Office's Public Affairs Officer Angela Dodge could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Defense attorney Keith Weiser said Green testified he did not possess the gun.

Judge John D. Rainey presided over the case.

The gun - a .40-caliber Smith and Wesson with 14 rounds of ammunition - was found after Green was arrested by Victoria police Oct. 14, 2011.

Then about 9 p.m., police met a woman at a Best Western Hotel who said Green forced her into prostitution. Officials connected with her through a website called backpage.com, according to an affidavit.

The woman also said that on the evening of May 24, 2011, while hiding out at a relative's house, Green shot a gun at her through a large glass window.

"Green allegedly contacted (her) and told her that if she did not come back he would kill her and her family," Special Agent Robert Noble, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives wrote in the affidavit. "(She) said that Green made her handle the firearms and even load the firearms so that he would minimize his chances of getting his fingerprints on the weapons."

At the state level, Green is charged in Victoria District Court with engaging in organized criminal activity, trafficking of a person, compelling prostitution by force or threat, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of deadly conduct discharge of a firearm.

Attorney Tali Villafranca is representing Green and could not be reached for comment. Green's trial date also was not available.

A 9 a.m. Friday hearing before Judge Robert C. Cheshire is set for Green's co-defendants Carrie Henderson, 34, and Ray Henderson, 30, both of Sugar Land, to determine whether both sides are ready for trial, according to the docket.

Both are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, continuous trafficking of persons and compelling prostitution by force or threat.

District Attorney Stephen Tyler said financial records indicate the three ran the prostitution business throughout the region.

"It was like a dating service, but they did more that just chat and drink tea," Tyler said.

Carrie Henderson's attorney David W. Kiatta could not be reached for comment.

Ray Henderson's attorney, Stephen Cihal, also could not be reached for comment.